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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 04 Hansard (Thursday, 1 April 2004) . . Page.. 1654 ..

notice, on 4 March 2004:

(1) In relation to complaints by detainees at the Quamby Youth Detention Centre against staff, has a staff member lost access to higher duties whilst the complaint is being investigated; if so, why;

(2) Are staff left with the idea that their positions are in jeopardy as a result of a complaint against them by a young detainee; if so, why.

Ms Gallagher: The answer to Mr Stefaniak’s question is:

(1) No staff members lost access to higher duties while a complaint against them was being investigated.

(2) Any staff member under investigation will receive the full support of management during the process. In addition, where appropriate, staff will be encouraged to utilise the professional counselling services available to all departmental employees.

Quamby Youth Detention Centre—living arrangements
(Question No 1357)

Mr Stefaniak asked the Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, upon notice, on 4 March 2004:

(1) What is the break-up in relation to the living arrangements of detainees at Quamby Youth Detention Centre, for example, how many units and how many detainees are in each unit;

(2) What are the guidelines for placing detainees in each of the units.

Ms Gallagher: The answer to Mr Stefaniak’s question is:

(1) Quamby is a 26 bed facility that accommodates both male and females aged 10 to 18 years, who have been ordered by the courts to be held in custody in relation to their criminal matters for a specified period of time.

The centre currently has 3 accommodation units. These are:

• Brindabella Unit: This unit is also referred to as the special needs unit and accommodates all new admissions, young people who have identified special needs and young people requiring extra security. The Brindabella Unit can house only six young people at any one time.

• Murrumbidgee Unit: This unit is an eight bed unit that is used to accommodate the younger male clients aged between 10 and 16 years and female clients aged 10-18 years.

• Ngunnawal Unit: This unit is a 12 bed unit accommodating only older male clients aged 16-18 years.

(2) Where possible, young people are placed within existing units based on criteria outlined in part (1), taking into account the need to appropriately separate male and female detainees, victims from perpetrators, special needs residents, high risk young people and those requiring specific behavioural management.

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